These 60 Vintage Photographs Tell The Incredible Story Of New York City

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In less than a century, NYC has transformed from a humble melting pot to a towering metropolis at the center of the world. These incredible photographs showcase how it came to be…

 

Men cut ice from Kissena Lake in Queens, ca. 1860-1900

Men cut ice from Kissena Lake in Queens, ca. 1860-1900

 

Lady Liberty being assembled in Paris in 1885

Lady Liberty being assembled in Paris in 1885

 

 

Girls hold hands and walk along 42nd Street in the 1890s

Girls hold hands and walk along 42nd Street in the 1890s

 

Little Italy in 1900

Little Italy in 1900

 

Madison Square ca. 1900

Madison Square ca. 1900

 

Times Square, 1903

Times Square, 1903

 

Children, adults, and a herd of sheep visit Central Park ca. 1900

Children, adults, and a herd of sheep visit Central Park ca. 1900

 

Delancey Street, 1906

Delancey Street, 1906

 

Workers dig along Delancey Street, 1908

Workers dig along Delancey Street, 1908

 

Painters hang from the wires of the Brooklyn Bridge, 1914

Painters hang from the wires of the Brooklyn Bridge, 1914

 

A pyramid of German army helmets outside Grand Central Terminal during World War One

A pyramid of German army helmets outside Grand Central Terminal during World War One

 

Grand Central ca. 1920

Grand Central ca. 1920

 

The Lannier Hotel, 1921

The Lannier Hotel, 1921

 

Sunbathers swarm on Coney Island, 1922

Sunbathers swarm on Coney Island, 1922

 

The New York Fire Department shows off its new steam powered fire engine

The New York Fire Department shows off its new steam powered fire engine

 

Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, 1923

Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, 1923

 

Children play on 50th St., 1924

Children play on 50th St., 1924

 

Workers lay bricks to pave 28th St., 1930

Workers lay bricks to pave 28th St., 1930

 

A Brooklyn Hooverville in Red Hook Park during the Great Depression

A Brooklyn Hooverville in Red Hook Park during the Great Depression

 

A crowded market underneath Park Avenue, 1932

A crowded market underneath Park Avenue, 1932

 

The Cathedral of Saint John ca. 1935

The Cathedral of Saint John ca. 1935

 

Midtown Manhattan ca. 1935

Midtown Manhattan ca. 1935

 

Carnegie Hall ca. 1935

Carnegie Hall ca. 1935

 

The S.S. Normandie on it’s way to dock ca. 1935

The S.S. Normandie on it’s way to dock ca. 1935

 

42nd St. with the Chrysler Building in the top right ca. 1935

42nd St. with the Chrysler Building in the top right ca. 1935

A man looks over the Hudson from the George Washington bridge, 1936

A man looks over the Hudson from the George Washington bridge, 1936

 

A woman buys vegetables on Bleeker Street, 1937

A woman buys vegetables on Bleeker Street, 1937

 

The view from the Chanin Building, 1937

The view from the Chanin Building, 1937

 

An elevated subway tracks, 8th St., Brooklyn, 1938

An elevated subway tracks, 8th St., Brooklyn, 1938

 

Downtown, 1944

Downtown, 1944

 

 

The outfield at a Yankee’s game ca. 1935

The outfield at a Yankee’s game ca. 1935

 

Astoria Public Pool, 1940

Astoria Public Pool, 1940

 

Times Square, 1954

Times Square, 1954

 

 

A skyjector shines an eye on the side of a building, 1960

A skyjector shines an eye on the side of a building, 1960

 

Chinatown, 1960

Chinatown, 1960

 

 

Over 10,000 young couples gather in Central Park for an Easter Love-in, 1961

Over 10,000 young couples gather in Central Park for an Easter Love-in, 1961

 

Police pursue gang members, 1961

Police pursue gang members, 1961

 

Two young women in Central Park, 1961

Two young women in Central Park, 1961

 

A window cleaner at work on the RCA Building, 1961

A window cleaner at work on the RCA Building, 1961

 

A lifeguard in Steeplechase Park, Coney Island, 1961

A lifeguard in Steeplechase Park, Coney Island, 1961

 

World’s Fair in Flushing Meadow, Queens, 1964

World’s Fair in Flushing Meadow, Queens, 1964

 

Entrance to the Wall Street Stock Exchange, 1964

Entrance to the Wall Street Stock Exchange, 1964

 

The 3,000 builders of the Chase Manhattan Bank as they near the end of construction, 1964

The 3,000 builders of the Chase Manhattan Bank as they near the end of construction, 1964

 

The World Trade Centers under construction, ca. 1966 – 1970

The World Trade Centers under construction, ca. 1966 - 1970

 

The New York subway, 1969

The New York subway, 1969

 

The Bowery, 1970s

The Bowery, 1970s

 

Times Square, 1972

Times Square, 1972

 

Judy Collins plays to a crowd at the Schaefer Bandstand in Central Park, 1973

Judy Collins plays to a crowd at the Schaefer Bandstand in Central Park, 1973

 

Midtown congestion, 1973

Midtown congestion, 1973

 

Bronx, 1973

Bronx, 1973

 

Harlem, 1973

Harlem, 1973

 

Brooklyn, 1974

Brooklyn, 1974

 

A family walks down 32nd Street, 1981

A family walks down 32nd Street, 1981

 

Subway at rush hour, 1982

Subway at rush hour, 1982

 

Picnic in Central Park, 1984

Picnic in Central Park, 1984

 

Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, 1987

Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, 1987

 

 

The main concourse of Grand Central Terminal, 1989

The main concourse of Grand Central Terminal, 1989
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Taylor Goldblatt

After years of research, travel, and dreams, I have created this website for people like you who want to experience the things that only America can offer. My passion is to explore and share America's greatest destinations and attractions. Follow me on Twitter @USCityTraveler for additional travel tips and ideas.

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